Content courtesy of Dave Anthony/Steinbach Online.
As the 2026-27 MJHL season gets closer, the Steinbach Pistons solidified their crease by bringing in 2006-born goaltender Lincoln Molind, a veteran netminder whose talent and experience will be key for the Pistons.
Getting the news
Hailing from Middleborough, Massachusetts, Molind says he’s been on the move in his hockey career before, but it’s never an easy thing. “You know, being cut a little later in the offseason definitely hurts a little bit,” he says candidly. “But I’m glad I found an organization quickly, especially (the Pistons), of course, and seeing what (Steinbach) is all about. The facilities are elite. It was just a no-brainer for me, honestly.”
It also helps that the Pistons have been an organization that has boosted goaltenders to the next level over their history. “I think it’s really exciting, especially coming into my age-out year,” Molind says. “It’s a huge year for me. I think it’s the perfect spot for me to really jump to college or wherever it leads me.”
Motivation at a new high
While he’s thrilled to be in Steinbach, Molind says he’s not taking anything for granted, and he’s got a bit of a chip on his shoulder going into the 2026-27 season. “Oh, of course. Of course, yeah,” he says with a competitive, fiery tone. “Definitely a lot more to give and sacrifice. Having my career not really on the line, but knowing that the next step, I need to perform well. Help the team and also just my career as well, so I think this is a huge season for me and I’m excited to get started.”
Dawning the pads
Years ago, when Molind first decided to become a goalie, he says one of his parents was thrilled, while the other took a little time to warm up to the idea. “I was very young,” he says with a chuckle. “I was eight years old, and my dad was a goalie. I’ve always looked up to him. I knew he knew about position, and once I told him I wanted to be a goalie, he was all for it. My mom was a little hesitant, but once I got out there and started tapping on the pads and stuff, I just fell in love with it and never looked back.”
Growing up through minor hockey in the States, Molind says it is not too different from what many Canadian families experience. “Massachusetts is definitely one of the smaller states, but it’s so big in hockey. Like, if you know one guy, you know five other guys who’ve played with them. It’s such a small world, especially in Massachusetts, but also in hockey as well. It’s so huge, and there are so many teams and so many leagues. It’s unbelievable.”
Who he is as a goalie
“I think I’m thinking very much of a hybrid,” Molind says with a smile. “I think, you know, I’m very positionally sound. But if I have to make that athletic save, I think I have the capability of doing that for sure. I do everything I can to keep the puck out of the net. End of the day, it’s my job to stop the puck. If I do that, we win, and I want to win.”
Playing in Finland
Not many players at any age have the opportunity to play overseas, but Lincoln Molind did just that in 2024-25, when he was just 18-years-old. “So it was a little unplanned,” he says with a laugh. “I was trying out for an NCDC team and got cut in the preseason. I was kind of just scrambling looking for teams to play with, you know, emailing out, stuff like that. One email I shot out to this one junior team, and he put me on with this guy who puts kids in Europe. Kids from North America and Europe for juniors. So, I got nowhere else to go, figured I might as well take my chances and take it. Honestly, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Going over there, not only developing as a goalie, but also just as a human being. Just seeing the other side of the world and experiencing different cultures and stuff like that, I think it’s really, like, developed me.”
“I wasn’t living with like a billet family or anything,” the 19-year-old who turns 20 in December explains. “I was in the apartment with like a couple other imports. Doing my own thing, figuring out how stuff works. I think it made me grow a lot. Learning how to manage the independence and just how society works. You don’t ask or expect someone to go get something for you. You have to go out and get milk. You don’t just ask your billet parents, and you can get it. Growing up a little more every single day, it really made me see life, and it’s made me a better person, so I’m grateful, for sure.”
Food over talking
Don’t try to speak Finnish to Molind, though, who jokes he picked up a little, but if you’re looking to cook him a meal, that would be a home run for him. “It was a little iffy, but I got a couple words,” he says, laughing. “But the food there was unbelievable. They’re more quality over quantity. It’s much less food, like you don’t see like a Whole Foods store or anything. I don’t know, just like little grocery stores, but the quality of food is really good. Their fish over there is just unbelievable. I would pick up salmon every day. Stuff like that. They’re big on that. Most of the food I tried, I’m a very adventurous eater, but most of the food I tried, I loved. I don’t think there was one food that I didn’t like. So that was great.”
Readjusting to North America
Being a goalie, Molind has a unique perspective on the game, but coming home from Finland, spending time with Rockland and then the Brooks Bandits, he noticed a massive change in the style of hockey. ‘It’s a lot more physical over here,” he details. “In Europe, it’s definitely a lot more skilled because of the bigger ice field and big sheets. There’s really not much hitting because it’s so wide and you just skate around the defender. It’s like a soccer field out there. But yeah, it’s much more physical here than it is over there. I think that was the biggest takeaway.”
One happy family
After his travels, Molind says his family is looking forward to being a part of Steinbach, too, noting he’s actually closer to home than he’s been in a while. “They are super excited, because I’ll be closer than I was in Alberta, so they’ll probably make a couple more trips than they did in Brooks. They’re definitely excited to see the facility in the rank. I showed them all of it, and they’re definitely wanting to get up there.”
Playing for Steinbach
Molind has already dug into the community, and he knows he’s not just playing on a team, but that he’s playing for a community that cares. “I think community is definitely the most important part,” he says. “Being involved in that is such a huge part of any junior hockey team. Showing up and giving back to the people, that’s really what it’s all about, and I’m all for it.”
Welcome to the Southeast
Days are falling off the calendar, and Molind has it circled for when he will be arriving in Steinbach. “I should be there for the minor hockey camp. I should be coaching there. That’s what Paul (Dyck) said. So probably around like the 25th, the 26th, something like that. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the guys, the people around the team, and getting to know the community.”
